Grey Mountain Research Facility |Surface Facility | 26 Dec 2015, 2218
Dark grey almost black storm clouds covered the area and stretched out towards the distant horizon, bringing with it the traditional sharp gusts of icy cold wind and sideways snow that was normal for a winter storm this high up in the mountains. Already, local forecasts were calling for nearly two feet of fresh snow before the dawn the following day, making this one of the worst storms to hit the area in recent history. Far below the overcast skies, the heavy flakes twisted their way from the heavens and fell against the cold concrete and metal structures that dotted the mountainside below. Inside, numerous facility workers huddled inside their respective buildings, trying their best to stay warm in the frigid temperatures that were enveloping them on this winters night.
Nearby, a small one man operated tracked plow quietly made it's way across the open area below the massive closed steel blast doors that made up the initial entry point for the underground portion of GMRF, as it's operator tried in vein to keep the snow from piling up and blocking the entrance to the facility should it need to be opened. The wind whistled and howled as it pushed against his iced canopy, pushing the average temperature down even further below zero with the combined wind chill effects. Overhead, a high yield flood light illuminating the entry way flickered momentarily against the darkness, catching the driver off guard for a second as it's light danced across the surface of the snow. He strained against the glass looking up a the light fixture for a brief moment, before he huffed to nobody in particular and continued with his work, dismissing the minor inconvenience for the time being.
After all, a malfunctioning light could be replaced at a later time when things quieted down some.
Grey Mountain Research Facility |C3 Center Of Operations| 1 Hour Later
Dr. Emily Smith, facility director and head researcher on several projects wasn't having a very good night. The slightly older but accomplished women in her early 40's was sitting at a remote interface station reserved for senior staff members deep withing the facilities operations center. Sweat was pouring down her unwrinkled face, fogging up her slim framed glasses as she shakily stared at a now black screen which only moments before had been a live feed coming from one of her many remote cameras covering the entirety of the facility.
Reaching out with an unsteady hand, the women found a interface terminal for her stations input display, and pressed the call button. A moment later, a holographic image of a woman's face appeared in a light purple outline.
"Good afternoon Director, how may I be of assistance?" Asked the soft synthetic voice over the terminals integrated speakers.
"Sari.." replied Emily before momentarily pausing to steady her voice. "Are you aware of what's going on in this sector?"
"Director, I am sorry to report that I am currently unable to accurately ascertain exactly what's going on within that sector."
"Are we contained?" She asked, continuing to peer at the screen in the hopes that she could somehow view past the darkness and learn it's secretes.
"Unknown."
The word hit Emily like a truck load of bricks. She covered her mouth with one hand, and quietly closed her eyes shut, trying to force out what possibilities now existed, and shed a single tear down her cheek.
"Sari, Initiate a priority one lock down of affected sphere and initiate a code Indigo for the rest of the facility until the situation is under control, under my directive authority."
"Confirmed Director. Beginning security shutdown time two, two, one, eight, day two six December twenty fifteen under directive authority, priority one."
Emily sank back in her chair, no longer able to contain her fear as overhead, a chime sounded indicating a chance in status, before the soft voice of Sari came over the internal PA system giving instructions for the facilities personnel.
Grey Mountain Research Facility |Surface Facility | 27 Dec 2015, 0700
"X-Ray Actual, this is Raider Wun Actual, we have arrived on site and are beginning our initial sweep of the area, time now, over."
"Raider Wun Actual, X-Ray Actual, solid copy. Proceed with caution and report back any findings. X-Ray out!"
The thin man, or he would have been if he hadn't been wearing the bulky artic gear issued for this region to all line units, who was wearing the subdued bar of butter on his shoulder identifier, rolled his eyes across the horizon at being cut off by his superiors. The man was still fresh enough out of Officer Training, that he still hadn't become accustomed to how blunt command could be at times.
"Orders sir?" Asked a slightly older and vastly more grizzled man squatting nearby on his snowshoes, who was wearing Staff Sargent rank on his identifier and was busy scanning the facility ahead of them with a handheld thermal mono scope. Around them the rest of the ten man reccee platoon from the 2nd Mountain Division sat professionally quiet in a loose defensive formation fanning out and providing them with 360 security. Or as much as could realistically be provided on the snow blasted landscape.
The LT looked around for a moment, taking stock of the immediate situation before replying.
"Looks like commands wants us to move in, secure the immediate area, and have a lookse and see who's still home." Said the Lt as he flexed his non firing gloved hand slowly trying to get some form of circulation going again.
"Right... first squad, take point and proceed along the tarmac towards the warehouse to our east. Second squad, provide over watch and move up once first has establish themselves. Move out!" The surrounding soldiers got to their respective snowshoe covered feet and proceeded to carry out their orders as best they could under the circumstances.
The findings of Raider over the course of their search was a mixed lot. The facilities vehicles were all found and accounted for, although covered in ice and snow from the previous nights storm. A few were even found with the batteries dead inside them, as if they were left running the entirety of the night. However, no sign of the areas facilities on site personal was found. Plates with half eaten meals were found in the mess hall, beds still mostly undisturbed by their owners from the previous night, and pallets of supplies still sat undisturbed in the warehouse.
The surface facilities control room was found and entered nearly forty minutes after initial arrival on site. Upon entering the room, it was discovered that one of the exterior windows had been broken during the storm, robbing the control room of much needed heat and blanketing it in frigged temperatures and ice. Special care had to be taken by the soldiers as they rebooted the systems one by one to access the door release for the main facility to prevent a blow out from an accumulation of moisture.
As the last system came online, restoring much needed lifesaving power back to parts of the surface facility, the LT radioed his finding back to command.
"X-Ray Actual, this is Raider Wun Actual, surface site secured at this time. We have secured command and control and has reestablished limited access to the heart of the facility. No sign of the garrison, and requesting further, over."
The only thing to come over the com relay for the next few moments was light static from interference with the mountain's terrain. The Lt was about to try again when a reply finally came through.
"Raider Wun Actual, X-Ray Actual, Frago follows..." There was a pause in the communications before further came through.
"Raider is to break the seal and proceed interior to reestablish communications and assess the situation first hand. Override commands are being linked to your PDA time now, and you are to proceed with all due haste, over."
The LT looked as his wearable PDA attached to his forearm and watched as a email icon flashed on his display, indicating a new message. With his finger, he flipped open the communication and linked it's contents to the interface via it's wireless interface.
"X-Ray Actual, this is Raider Wun Actual, command recieved. Breaking the seal and entering the facility time now. Will report back with a SITREP every wun five mikes for the duration of our incursion. Raider Wun out."
As he un keyed his mic, orange flashers running the length of the blast doors came online and started to strobe a construction orange light across the white landscape. A moment later, the thick metallic locks could be clearly heard disengaging from their berths before the doors started to swing open on their massive hydraulic hinges, pushing the snowdrift in front of it away like it was nothing.
"Alright people.." said the grizzled Staff Sargent as he check the batteries on his rail mounted surefire tac light. "I want two columns with a five meter spread whenever possible. Keep it tight and remember, three sixty security as we advance. LT, stick close to me in the middle as we go. I can't afford to come find you if you wander off and get lose down there." He said as he smiled towards the now glaring LT.
"Move out!" He said as the group assumed their well versed positions and set foot into the entry level of the facility. As the last man cleared, the blast doors automatically closed in behind them for security purposes, leaving the exterior of the facility once again void of any and all signs of life, safe for the occasional drift of snow being pushed around on the wind.
Dominion Special Operations Command (DSOC) | 27 Dec 2015, 1122
General Fergus MacGowan was not pleased.
The hard lines of the battle hardened and scarred man who had only recently been promoted following the untimely death of his predecessor General Edward Stern, normally made it hard for those around the man to accurately assert his current mood. However, even now his mannerisms betrayed him, and it was clear to everyone around him that he was downright pissed at the developing situation.
Or perhaps it was the stack of charts that the man angrily flipped across the room just moments before.
With a gaze that could cut glass from a mile away, the man turned towards the communications officer sitting nearby.
"Make the call." Was all he said before turning his gaze back upon the interactive tabletop display before him, and at the latest development displayed to him on it's surface.
"Yes Sir." Said the man before pulling up a corresponding list from his terminals display and dialing out.
"Get me Task Force Atlas command..." he said and waited to be patched through.
